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Putin says Russia won't enter arms race with NATO

Posted: 7:26 AM, Jun 30, 2016

Updated:2016-06-30 12:26:59Z

By:
The Associated Press

Copyright Associated Press

Mikhail Klimentyev

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin, via a video link, addresses people marking the second anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea in Moscow's Red Square, as he visits the construction site of the Kerch Strait bridge on the Tuzla Island, Crimea, Friday, March 18, 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to Crimea on Friday to mark the second anniversary of the peninsula's annexation and inspect construction of a bridge meant to link it to mainland Russia. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)</p>

MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin says that Russia will respond to NATO's military buildup near its borders, but will not be drawn into an arms race.

Putin said Thursday that NATO underlined its anti-Russian intentions by deploying forces in Poland and the Baltics and building missile defense sites.

Russia has described NATO's U.S.-led missile shield as a top threat, rejecting Washington's claims that the shield is intended to fend off the Iranian missile threat. Putin said that the U.S. is developing the missile defense despite last year's nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers.

Speaking to Russian diplomats, he said that NATO's action undermines military parity. He said that Russia will defend itself without entering a costly arms race.

Putin also said that Russia wants a quick settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.

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